Contact of the pin type



Nov. 15, 1932. w. J. GAGNON CONTACT OFTHE PIN TYPE Filed Sept. 14, 1.925

Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE] WILLIAM J' GAGNON, F BRIDGEIOB'I', CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TOTHE BEAD CHAIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BBIDGEPORQOONNECTICUT, A OORPOBA'IION OF CONNECTICUT CONTACT OF THE PIN TYPE Application filed September 14, 1925. Serial No. 56,292.

My invention relates to pin type contacts,

and particularly to contacts for circuit extension appliances such as .lamps, audions, attachment plugs, etc. The object of my in- 6 vention is to provide a sheet metal tubular contact which possesses a rigidity comparable to that of the usual contact pin formed fromrod or bar. stock, and has the technical advantages of the pin described in my copending application, filed herewith. My present invention provides a modified form of pin adapted to be molded in to its associated base. In the accompanying drawing, in which all the views show pinsdrawn to a scale considerably enlarged over its usual commercial form- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pin alone;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of an audion base to which my invention is applied; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 3.

The present contact, like that disclosed in my application of even date, is formed from sheet metal, and its general characteristics and advantages are the same as compared with contacts formed from bar or rod stock. Briefly, it comprises a tubular shank 5, the contact end of which is preferably reduced as at 6 to accommodate the solder drop 7 by which the threaded through'lead wire 8 is engaged and electrically connected 'to the contact end.

Where the material of the base 9 permits, it constitutes an economy of manufacture to mold the contact in position when the base is formed. For the sake of explanation it may be assumed'that the base 9 is of glass, which, when it can be used, not only affords excellent insulation. but involves considerable economy of material over such relatively expensive moldable materials as certain phenol condensation products. I

The adaptation of my sheet metal contact of such construction, involves (1) the formation of an anchor head thereon which may be embedded in the material of the base to firmlyhold the contact pin in position; (2) the shaping of this head to facilitate the automatic feed of the pins to the molding 8-- chine; (3) the formation of the head in h fashion that the base material is obstructed from entering the interior of thepin during the molding operation; (4) the shaping of the obstructing surfaces'atthis end in such fashion that the base material, such" as glass, readily displaces from the wire entrance mouth at the head of the pin during the formation' of the guideway leading thereto through the material of the baSe'itseIf.

To this end the anchor head of the pin com,- prises an annula flange 10 adjacent the terminal non-circular area-11, the marginal wall of which is smoothlyintroverted to form a re-entrant conical mouth 12 with rounded surfaces. The flange 10 forms not only an anchor against longitudinal displacement of the pin in the base, but also as a support for the pin as it moves al ngits feed guide at the molding machine. e embedded polygonal area of the head prevents swivellang of 7 the pin in the base.

The. re-entrant conical mouth 12 serves the important function of barring the more or less fluid or plastic hot glass, or the like, from the interior of the pin when the base material is introduced into the mold in whichthe heads of the pins are already positioned. Moreover I have found that'the rounded surfaces of the cone cooperate with-the former 13 as the latter descendsto sha e the guidewa s 14 in the base, so that suc base materia as initially enters the cone, flows or is pressed outas the former enters. Should some of the base material be carried into the pin with the stem 15 of the former, the in terior of the bulbous'head of the pin affords such ample space to accommodate such material that no blocking of the wire way can possibl occun- The. eriphery of the b se-is generall channel ed at 16 to receive an inwardly ofl set bead 17 on the metal shell 18, but this feature and the general construction of the base do not enter intoinyin'vention. While I.

have shown a constructionwhich is eflicient' 'andecmomical to manufacture and assemble, various: other contours and constructions which accomplish m inventiongwill readily occur to those df ing with" problem, Moreover, while I have showna fpin a'ss'ociated with the base of an audion, its utility in is rigidly attached, said end of the pin havother electrical fittings will be obvious, while in fittings such that electrical connection is efi'ected otherwise than by threading through a lead wire to the contact end of the pin, such modifications in construction as adapt it to such conditions will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

lVith the understanding therefore that the construction shown is but an illustrative embodiment of the conception which underlies my invention, I claim 1. A longitudinally split pin-formed fromsheet metal stock and laterally closed throughout its length, and comprising a bulbous head at one-end, and a rigid tubular shank extendtherefrom.

2. Alongitudinally split pin formed from sheet metal stock and laterally closed throughout its le h, and comprising a bulbous head at one en and a rigid tubular shank extending therefrom, the head end of the pin having an integraltransverse closureelement I afford ng a restricted ;opening for the entry of a lead wire.

3., A longitudinally split pin formed from sheet metal stock and. laterally closed throughout its length, and comprising a bulbeushead at one end, and a rigid tubular shank extending therefrom, the end of the shank having anintegr'al closure affording a restricted opening for the exit of a lead wire. ,4. A longitudinally split pin formed from sheet metal stock and laterally closed throughout its len h, and comprising a bulbous head at one en and a rigid tubular shank extending therefrom the opposite ends of the pin having integral closures afi'ording restricted wire openings.

5. A rigid tubular contact pin formed from sheet metal stock and having a transverse diaphragm at an end thereof.

6. A rigid tubular contact pin formed from sheet metal stock and having a peripheral anchorage shoulder adj acentone end, said end being obstructed by a transverse diaphragm.

7 A rigid tubular contact pin formed from sheet metal stocknand having. a head end adapted to be molded into an insulatin base, said end having a transverse diaphragm which serves, during the molding operation, to exclude the moldable material of the base from the interior of thepin.

8. A rigid tubularcontact pin formed from sheet metal stock, in combination with a molded insulating base to which one end of the pin is rigidly attached, said end of the pin having a mechanical enga ement with the base to prevent longitudina and rotary displacement with respect thereto and afiording a guide mouth for the entry of a lead wire to the interior of the pin.

9. A rigid tubular contact pin formed from sheet metal stock, in combination with a molded insulating base to which one end of the pin in a head and an annular shoulder cooperatmg with the base to prevent relative movement of the parts, and the base and. pin end being apertured in register to admit a lead wire to the interior of the pin.

10. A tubular contact pin for the base of a 'radio tube, having a. securing head to be 

